Getty Villa and Center Safe from Fires; Villa to Reopen Friday, November 23

Getty Villa and Getty Center are both safe and not threatened, and our art and archives are secure

November 19, 2018 Update

Fire agencies report that the Woolsey fire is nearing full containment and total damage is being assessed. Officials have increased the number of structures destroyed to 1,500. Cooler weather has arrived and there is rain in the forecast for Wednesday. Utilities and local agencies are now in recovery mode, restoring power, water, and infrastructure to many communities.

Due to the extensive damage in the western Santa Monica Mountains, some evacuations remain in effect and Pacific Coast Highway remains closed between the border of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties and Malibu Canyon. The Getty Villa can be reached via Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica and via Sunset Boulevard. As road closures are subject to change, please check Highway 1 road closure updates before driving to the Villa.

November 14, 2018 Update

Fire agencies today have positive news, reporting that they expect the Woolsey Fire to be at full containment by Sunday. What has been one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles-area history is now at near 50 percent containment. Weather conditions remain dry with low humidity, but winds are not forecast to increase, aiding the fire effort.

While many evacuation orders remain in place, residents in the western fire zones are being allowed to reenter to inspect their properties under escort by emergency responders. Residents in the eastern areas are being allowed to return after providing proof of residence at a checkpoint on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Utilities are beginning to shift into disaster recovery mode to restore power and water to the area.

Pacific Coast Highway is now open up to Topanga Canyon where there is a checkpoint for local traffic only. PCH is at the moment the only route in and out of the disaster zone. Officials tell us that PCH is needed for recovery efforts and it is optimal to keep the thoroughfare accessible to local residents and disaster relief. As a result, the Getty Villa will remain closed to the public through Thanksgiving Day with the expectation we will reopen on Friday, November 23.

We will continue to provide further updates on our website, social media, and The Iris.

Our deepest sympathies are with all of those who have lost their homes and who have been impacted by this tragedy, especially right in the aftermath of the Wednesday shooting tragedy in Thousand Oaks. We are working to support the emergency response effort and our surrounding communities.

November 13, 2018 Update

We continue to closely monitor the wildfire situation and to receive updates from our regional fire agencies. Today, Tuesday, November 13, we have learned from fire agencies that the Woolsey Fire is 35 percent contained, but they have experienced flare-ups today in remote wildland locations. Full damage assessments have not yet taken place after six days of battling the fire.

Fire agencies tell us that there still is no timeline for reopening the evacuation zones in Malibu and in some valley communities. There is also no plan to reopen the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which remains closed at Sunset Boulevard indefinitely and is being used for emergency responders only. Even when evacuations are lifted, we anticipate that PCH will be needed for disaster recovery efforts. As a result, the Getty Villa will remain closed to the public until further notice and we are planning for it to be closed at least through Thanksgiving Day. We will follow direction from emergency agencies as to the appropriate time to reopen.

Based on information we have about the weather conditions and status updates from fire agencies, the Getty Villa and Getty Center both remain safe and not threatened; our art and archives are secure. We are following our standard protocols for red-flag weather conditions. The Getty Center remains open and operating under its normal hours.

Many people have been asking questions about how we keep our art and archives secure from fire. You may find of interest a story that appeared yesterday in Popular Science about our fire prevention efforts. While it focuses on the Getty Center, we also have similar practices to protect the Getty Villa.

Original Text Published November 10, 2018

As you may have seen in news reports, the wildfires burning in the Santa Monica Mountains, across Ventura and Los Angeles counties, have expanded overnight and are not contained. Based on information we have about the future weather conditions and status updates from fire agencies, the Getty Villa and Getty Center are both safe and not threatened and our art and archives are secure. The Getty Villa is on the eastern border of Malibu and far from the fire zone. The Getty Center remains open and fully operational on its normal schedule.

However, Pacific Coast Highway near the Villa is now closed at Sunset Boulevard and is being used for emergency responders only. As a result, the Getty Villa will remain closed to the public until further notice. We will follow direction from emergency agencies as to the appropriate time to reopen. It could be several days given the magnitude of the situation.

We have offered the Villa facilities as a place for fire crews to rest and recover. We are working with the Incident Commander, who will be dispatching teams to the Villa shortly. We are preparing to house and feed the firefighters.

We will provide further updates on our website, social media, and The Iris.

Our deepest sympathies are with all of those who have lost their homes and who have been impacted by this tragedy, especially right in the aftermath of the Wednesday shooting tragedy in Thousand Oaks. We are working to support the emergency response effort and our surrounding communities.

In the immediate fire scenario and forecast wind conditions, fire officials tell us both the Getty Villa and Getty Center are not threatened. However, should there be a fire threat, the Getty locations are the safest places for art. We have multiple fire-safety and security systems in place to assure that the valuable art and archives are protected in place.

Were so worried about the Villa when we heard the fires were spreading. We are so thankful that the arts and antiquities are being protected. Thank you so much. We pray for the safety of first responders and those working to keep the Villa and the Center safe. We visited them both very recently and spent several days walking the grounds and view the beautiful art.

Very relieved to hear the villa and center are safe. I’m an Australian living in Sweden, and have been worried. We know about bushfires in Australia but that sounds hell in California. Hope thins improve soon.

Hi Lisa – The Getty Villa will be closed at least through Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018. (This blog post has been updated with the most recent information.) There is not currently an exhibition called One God at the Villa, but the two exhibitions now on view—Underworld: Imagining the Afterlife and Palmyra: Loss and Remembrance—don’t close until the spring of 2019. We’ll provide further updates when we have them at the top of this post, as well as on the Getty website and social media.

What a vibrant organization! Thank you for serving the community. Everyone we have ever dealt with at the Getty has been kind, knowledgeable and caring.

This extends not only to the invaluable and irreplaceable art collections, but also to the invaluable and irreplaceable community the Getty organization is so much a part of, and is working to preserve.

We hope many institutions and people take note of your inspirational example. Thank you!

Hi Sabrina – Thanks for your kind message. We’ll be posting more information here when we get it, but you can also contact Visitor Services for more immediate information in regards to your reservation. E-mail visitorservices@getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300. *UPDATE at 4:05pm* Hi Sabrina, we’ve just received word that the Getty Villa will be closed at least through Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018. (This blog post has been updated with the most recent information.) Hopefully you’ll be able to visit the Villa at another time.

Hello – The Getty Villa will be closed at least through Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018. (This blog post has been updated at the top with the most recent information.) We’ll provide further updates when we have them at the top of this post, as well as on the Getty website and social media.

As two Canadians who have recently come to love both Getty Centres we are so pleased to hear the properties are both safe. Committing the Villa to support the firefighters is magnificent. Keep up the good citizenship work – if will never be forgotten. Best wishes.

So relieved to hear the Villa is safe. Continued prayers for it’s protection, as well as for everyone impacted by this horrific disaster. Wonderful of you to house the firefighters. Our thoughts and prayers continue.

I have never visited the Getty, but use your online geographical Thesaurus daily in my research position at Washington State University. I am relieved to hear that your collections and resources are safe, and very glad to know you are assisting the firefighters in such an important way! Good people doing the right thing is what keeps us all hopeful during such tragic disasters…

Hi Gloria – The Getty Villa will be closed at least through Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018. (This blog post has been updated with the most recent information.) You should be receiving soon, if you haven’t already, an e-mail from the Getty concerning the performance of katabasis. You can also contact Visitor Services directly for the latest information: e-mail visitorservices@getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

I need to know about smoke and fire danger. Because my daughter is going on a field trip to the Getty museum with her class, special Ed children. please call for any news about closures and any emergencies or anything.

The Getty Museum at the Getty Center and Getty Villa both remain safe and not threatened by fire. The Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Brentwood (near the 405 freeway) is open to visitors under normal business hours, but the Getty Villa (which displays the Museum’s antiquities collection) in Pacific Palisades (off Pacific Coast Highway) is closed until further notice, at least through Thanksgiving Day (the latest information has been added to the top of this post). Please contact Visitor Services directly for information about field trips: e-mail visitorservices@getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

Thank you so much for the update. I hold the Getty Villa as one of my favorite places. I am so glad you are all safe and am happy to hear that fire fighters and other emergency workers will find respite there.

Hi Wilfried – For the most up-to-date information about visiting the Getty Center and Getty Villa, it’s best to check our website, http://www.getty.edu/visit/. Please e-mail visitorservices@getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300 with any questions in advance of your visit.

Thank you for posting Getty Villa’s status. I’m very relieved, here in Washington State, a retiree from decades of San Fernando Valley life. I still have postcards from the 1970’s of treasures exhibited at the museum, as well as fond memories of visits over the years to both the “new” Getty Center and the original Getty in the Palisades. Years of “followup t.v. viewing” of archaeological discoveries at Herculaneum led to touring the site five years ago. Thank you, Getty folks!

Hi Patrick – Thanks for your message and interest in visiting the Villa. You should have been contacted by Visitor Services about rescheduling your visit. If not, please email visitorservices@getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

As soon as I heard of the fires in Santa Monica, my thoughts turned to one of my favourite places in earth. The Getty Villa. I am so relieved to know that all is well. Of course the suffering of all affected is more pressing, but the sharing of this history and culture gives more meaning to life. Thank you for leaving your news on the website. It’s the first chance I’ve had to check in.

Happy to know that the Getty Center is secure and all its art and archives! More power for its support of the firefighters in housing and feeding them, the least we can do in return for their selfless acts to help and preserve the community.

I too was concerned about the safety of those magnificent art treasures at the villa. Had the pleasure of seeing them several years ago and all the memories of Jr. High, High School and collegiate art appreciation and art history courses came back in a flash. Actually standing in front of such treasures is pleasure all should have. Very grateful for protection measures that at least in this case, was highly successful. Heartfelt sympathy for those who have perished in this disaster. Forest fires are like demons on the war path. God Bless All.

I was glad to get this email from you. One of the things I thought of when I heard about the fires was the Getty – even thought I know you have great fire protection systems – these wildfires are the worst I remember – and I’m old! So glad you are supporting the firefighters too.